SMS Delivery Without PDN Session for IoT Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional 3GPP SMS architecture and non-IP data delivery methods for IoT devices incur significant overhead, making them costly and inefficient to scale for the large number of expected IoT devices.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves conveying SMS messages between a Mobility Management Entity (MME) and a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF) using a unique identifier of the user equipment, such as an IMSI, without establishing a PDN connection. This allows for selective forwarding and buffering of SMS messages based on the operational status of the user equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional 3GPP SMS architecture is used for IoT devices, then SMS message delivery is achieved, but significant overhead and cost are incurred due to PDN connection establishment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the SMS message delivery function from the complex PDN connection establishment process. By allowing SMS messages to be delivered directly to the MME without requiring a full PDN connection, the solution removes unnecessary overhead while preserving the core SMS delivery capability. This is achieved by modifying the SMS delivery procedure to bypass the packet data network connection setup that is typically required for data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the SMS delivery process from the PDN connection establishment process. Instead of requiring a complete PDN connection (which includes IP address allocation, bearer setup, and network registration), the solution separates SMS delivery as an independent function that can operate with minimal network resources. This segmentation allows SMS messages to be delivered using only the control plane resources already available to the IoT device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional SMS architecture with PDN connection is used, then complete data transmission capability is provided, but cost and inefficiency increase for large numbers of IoT devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by providing only the minimum necessary network resources for SMS delivery. Instead of establishing a full PDN connection with IP addressing, bearer setup, and complete data transmission capabilities, the solution uses only the control plane signaling resources already allocated to the device. This partial approach is sufficient for SMS messages while avoiding the excessive overhead of complete data transmission infrastructure.
3Reliability
If circuit-switched architecture is used for SMS delivery, then traditional SMS functionality is maintained, but overhead and cost prevent scaling to large numbers of IoT devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the traditional circuit-switched architecture with a packet-switched approach using existing control plane resources. Instead of maintaining separate circuit-switched networks for SMS delivery, the solution uses the existing packet-switched control plane signaling mechanisms already in place for device management. This substitution leverages existing infrastructure to provide SMS delivery without the overhead of maintaining parallel circuit-switched systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
A service capability exposure function (SCEF) receives a short message service (SMS) message associated with a user equipment. The SCEF identifies a destination for the SMS message on the basis of a mapping between a unique identifier of the user equipment and an external identifier of the user equipment. The SCEF transmits the SMS message towards the destination. Receiving the SMS message and transmitting the SMS message are performed without establishing a packet data network (PDN) session for conveying the SMS message. A mobility management entity (MME) receives the SMS message and identifies the destination for the SMS message on the basis of a unique identifier of the user equipment included in the SMS message. The MME transmits the SMS message towards the destination.